RUTH COMMENDS GLOBAL EXPERTISE OF SCOTLAND’S RENEWABLES INDUSTRY

On Wednesday 14th December, Holyrood held a debate focused on Scotland’s Climate Targets as the draft strategy for the next set of targets prepares for publication early next year.

Scotland is well on track to meet its current target of producing 100 per cent of all electricity needs from renewables by 2020. This year, for the first time ever, wind turbines in Scotland generated more electricity than was used in the whole of the nation on a single day.

And on the whole, Scotland now generates over half of its total electricity use from renewables, a 14 per cent increase on 2014, and representing 26 per cent of the total UK renewable energy that was generated in 2015.

Speaking in the debate, Ruth Maguire, SNP MSP for Cunninghame South, highlighted how Scotland’s renewables expertise is also in demand around the globe, citing recent research by Scottish Reneables which set out how Scottish businesses are working in more than 40 countries, and in every continent bar Antarctica.

Ruth referred to the example of Irvine-based Windhoist, which has installed more than 4,800 wind turbines across the globe, from South Africa and Morocco to Australia and Belgium.

Commenting after the debate, Ruth said:

‘Leading by example at home, and sharing expertise abroad, our renewable riches allow us to contribute to tackling climate change on a global scale. Our renewables industry also provides a valuable source of economic strength and employment, as is exemplified through companies such as Prontoport and Windhoist in my own constituency of Cunninghame South.

Great strides have already been made, and our approach to capitalising on Scotland’s renewable energy must continue to be ambitious. I am proud of what we have achieved so far, and I look forward to reading the draft strategy early next year and doing all that I can to support the industry as we move forward.’